REAL-TIME FILM FESTIVAL 2016

OFFICIAL SELECTION

CONGRATS TO THE FILMMAKERS WHOSE MOVIES HAVE BEEN SHORTLISTED FOR SCREENING AT THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:THE ENCOUNTER

Tolu Ajayi

Runtime22:13​

​Tolu Ajayi is a Creative professional working in Advertising and Film. He has versatility across many fields of visual communication from writing, photography and directing,. Starting as intern cartoonist at Vanguard newspapers in his secondary school days, Tolu now has garnered almost 2 decades of advertising experience making some of the most memorable campaigns for SO&U SAATCHI. as first as a copywriter and TV commercials producer and director He currently runs a TV production company Lucid Av for SO&U’s advertising group. He’s also was a talented multi camera director on the acclaimed MNET Tinsel series . He also wrote and directed an award winning short film Blink which got him online notoriety winning 3 awards at the In-Short film festival with several nominations at other industry awards

OFFICIAL SELECTION:THE PURPLE HOUSE

Selim Gribaa

Runtime29:58

Hsan, an unemployed man in his fifties, has been looking for work in his neighborhood. On his wife's insistence, he decides to go and see Ammar, head of the RCD district cell to ask for help. Ammar agrees to find him a job under one condition: that he paints his house purple! Meanwhile, the Tunisian Revolution took place, turning all things upside down, leaving Hsan in total disarray.

Selim Gribaa is a young director born in 1981 in Tunis. Having been a part of his architectural studies in France, he decided to complete in Tunisia and obtained his degree in architecture at the University of Carthage in 2009. He then devoted to his passion: Cinema. After several experiences in the field of multimedia, he opened his own production company in 2010, starting with institutional films. In 2012, he directed his first documentary "a feather in the wind" entirely self-financed. Meanwhile he teaches video and photo at the Higher Institute of Fine Arts in Tunis. End of 2014, he finished his first short film "The Purple House". Currently he lives and works in Tunis.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:SLOW COUNTRY(OPENING FILM)

Eric Aghimien

KOME is a street girl. All she cares about in life is her six years old son, PETER. She’s been able to secure a comfortable life for him by following the first street rule: Do whatever it takes to survive bearing in mind the second rule: Trust your instinct but no one. She wasn’t always a street girl, at sixteen she gets pregnant and is disowned by her father who cannot bear the ensuing shame. She relocates to Lagos to live with her aunt. Incidentally, her aunt’s husband despises her and not wanting to cause problems in her aunt’s marriage, she decides to run away. While on the street as a homeless, pregnant girl; she begs for alms in order to survive and gives birth under the bridge all alone in the middle of the night. As a nursing mother, she gets a job as a cleaner in a club owned by a drug and human trafficker, TUVI who killed his father to take over the family business. He offers to help her raise her child and give her a good life but in return, she must help in his line of business: drug trafficking and prostitution. She is left with no choice but to accept the deal even though she does not enjoy it but considers it better than being on the street. Seven years later, OSAS, a graduate of Law from the a University in Kaduna is posted to Lagos to serve as Youth Corp Member. Initially posted to teach in a primary school, he redeploys to a law firm to practise his profession. However, he later changes his mind to teach in the school where he meets Peter, Kome’s son, who often comes late to class. Osas is curious about Peter’s recurrent lateness and decides to talk to his mother. Osas makes a shocking discovery; Peter is his son. He disappeared when Kome got pregnant, so she thinks until she hears his side of the story. He manages to work his way back into Kome’s heart, after series of trials. Their affection for each other soon becomes a distraction and a stumbling block for Tuvi’s business. In order to keep his most valuable asset, Kome, and to keep his business running, Tuvi orders the elimination of Osas. Kome risks everything that matters to her so as to save Osas since fighting back may be their only chance when escaping fails.

​Eric Aghimien is a talented self taught Nigerian filmmaker. He is a writer, Producer and Director. Born in Benin City, Edo state where he grew up and attended public schools. He became interested in filmmaking after he moved to Lagos in 2006 to pursue a career in music. He intended to study filmmaking but could not raise enough fund for it so he decided to read books and online articles to become a filmmaker. In 2013 he made his first feature, “A Mile From Home’, which got him a nomination for Best Lighting Designer and won Best Actor in Drama for Tope Tedela, in the 2014 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA). The movie also got Eric an award for Achievement in Visual Effect in the 2014 Africa Movies Academy Awards (AMAA). A Mile from Home also won Best Movie at the 2014 Nollywood Movies Awards. In 2015 he had the opportunity to attend the Berlinale Talent and made his second feature “Slow Country” in 2016.

​OFFICIAL SELECTION:SAUDADE

Sebastián Uría

The sudden departure of Emmanuel leaves Adama a feeling of emptiness that neither her husband nor her friends can fill. Time passes by as Adama hopes for her son to come back soon.

Sebastián Uría was born in 1988 in Ponferrada, a coal mining town in the north of Spain. He started his higher education in Salamanca, where he got a Bachelor of Arts in History. At that time he discovered the French culture, notably through the movies of Jean Vigo, whom he admires profoundly. He then moved to Andalusia -home region of his mother- where he pursued a Master of Arts in the university of Granada. Attracted by its cinematographic tradition, he moved to France in 2012 and worked as a foreign language assistant. That was his chance to master the language and get into SATIS, the audiovisual public school of Aix-Marseille.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: 4242 Directed by Sara Eustaquio

SARA EUSTAQUIO

SARA EUSTAQUIO: 4242

​Sara Eustáquio, born in September 1999, is a Portuguese young filmmaker aspirant, 16, who is finishing the high school (in arts), in Torres Vedras, a suburban city of Lisbon.

Passionate about photography and movies since the childhood, she shot at 14 her first short film, 'Elizabeth' (about teenage bullying), with a small digital camera. The project began as a simply artistic presentation for an English class in high school. The enthusiasm with which it was received led her to upload it on YouTube. Surprisingly, the homemade video reached over 10,000 views in the first days (http://youtu.be/qjYyB8MQZQU).

Since then, she has been involved in some school and youth associations' video productions.

In April 2016, Sara released '4242', her first short fiction narrative film, recipient in May of the Junior Winner (Special Jury Prize) at Near Nazareth Festival , in Israel, in June of the Award of Merit Special Mention (Young Filmmaker - 17 and younger) at the Best Shorts Competition in Los Angeles, and in August of the Award of Merit (Young Filmmaker - 17 and younger) at the IndieFest Film Awards, also in Los Angeles. So far, the film was officially selected for 25 international film festivals around the world (http://youtu.be/oemLpOFHnnE).

In August, she successfully completed an intensive summer program in filmmaking at New York Film Academy, in New York City, where she made her second narrative fiction, the micro short horror film 'Mirror' (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5958158).

Her goal is to be a successful candidate for a filmmaking BFA in California next year.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: THE FOREST PAPER Directed by Sipparpad Krongraksa

Sipparpad Krongraksa

This animation it all about bird who want to build her nest with straw,but he get lost in to the world that is made of paper, everybody in the city tends to focus on technologies and forget to care about our mother-nature.it cause disaster like flooding. This 3D animation symbolizes the lives of people in the city nowadays, which most of them that are likely to depend on materialism and that causes them to ignore their duty, which is to protect and support the existing of our natural resources.The main purpose of this project is to present the idea of how our mother nature could with the being harm through the use of paper.

Director StatementHello everybody my name is Sipparpad Krongraksa now i'm 23 year olds,i'm graduated at faculty of digital art department of VisualEffect in the major of Dynamic simulation at Rangsit university (Thailand) i want to be 3Danimator , now i'm freelancer at 3D Generalist,VFX Artist and MotionGraphic...thank you very much for following my work.. if you have any advice or if you want to contact me this is my mail yeesipp@gmail.com

OFFICIAL SELECTION: DREAM OF SPIDER Directed by ario saffarzadegan​

ario saffarzadegan

A different short story about Little Red Riding Hood.

ario saffarzadegan is a 31 years old Animator. He lives in Iran Tehran and works as an Animator and illustrator.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: INKSIDE FonkyPoulpDirected by stephane chung

Oro is falling from the sky into a desert world... All around him, dark shapes are raising from everywhere and are turning into supernatural creatures and into samurais. A terrible fight is about to begin between the warriors and the creatures that look like diabolical octopuses. And then the dark shapes are becoming brightly colored creatures, psychedelic octopuses that are moving restlessly and excitedly, but then menacingly.As if totally indifferent to what happens around him, Oro is rambling into this chaotic background, from scenes of fear to scenes of contemplation . Can he get out of here ? Are these strange octopuses really a threat ?What if Oro was himself the creator of this world ?

Stephane Chung is a artist/director graduated from Gobelins, an animation school In Paris, where he directed 2 short films named NANO and Underground Psycho. During the year 2007, he met TigoboStudio and worked with them as a junior animator for their short film Symhio, directed by Reno Armanet. After his graduation in 2008, he worked on his first videoGame as a concept Artist for Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS games at Blacksheep Studio and Ubisoft Paris. In 2011, he started his first job on a feature film called "Aya de Youpougon" as a character animator in Banjo studio directed by Clement Oubrerie.Rich of all these experiences, he joined Rovio Entertainment in 2012 as the FX animation supervisor, where he participated on many short films projects for the game Angry Birds. After spending 2 years in the finnish compagny, he cames back in Paris, to work on the 2D feature film "Longway North" directed by Rémi Chayé, still as the FX animation supervisor.However, on his spare time, Stephane Chung was also directing his first animated short film INKSIDE produced by TigoboStudio, which was finally accomplished in the early 2016, and now running for differents animation festivals.Stephane Chung is now an art director, working on differents video games projects.Director StatementStephane Chung origins are both occidental and asiatic. His parents came from China and Stephane was born and raised in France.Inkside/ Fonky Poulp's subject is inspired by this mixed education.Oro, the main character of the movie, is the witness of what he created by mistake : images, shapes and emotions, his imagination is taking life and he tries to control it at the end.The movie is the purpose to show an explosion of feelings, emotions and energy, the materials give organisation to the chaos.Calligraphy's way of working is very similar, it is a different way of thinking than regular drawing with pen and paper. The movement of the pencil and the mind are relying on the flow of the movements which gives birth to the drawing.Inkside is based on this feeling.The intention is to give life to this explosion of creativity. To keep this energy there are no dialogues. The spectator dive into the universe of the movie and the meaning comes at the end of the movie.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: Dhartiputra (The son of the earth)Directed by Aditya Khadka​​

In Nepal earthquake 2015, about 9000 people were killed, twice as many injured and millions of settlements were destroyed. Most people lost their lives after being buried under houses and buildings that were reduced to rubble. Few people were very fortunate to survive even after they got buried under debris and remains of buildings."Dhartiputra" is a short documentary which chronicles the story of a four months old baby, Sonis Awal who was rescued after being buried under his house for 22 hours. It also reflects the feelings of a mother who almost lost her son away.

​Aditya Khadka is the youngest documentary director of Nepal and one the nominee for the "Glocal Teen Hero of Nepal, 2015". He is a ninth grader and a passionate filmmaker. Dhartiutra had won the third prize in "Seismic Shift Competition - Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, 2015"

OFFICIAL SELECTION: ARKHEDirected by Batuhan Köksal

A glare draws the bright spirits to the dark and dystopian world and makes them to part of its world. Sprits which are affected by glare, follow it and put the human parts on them to making a solid bodies. But before long, they are captured by hatred and greed of this world therefore they lose their own light and become darkness itself.

​He was born in 1987 in Izmir/Turkey. He studied acting in Dokuz Eylul University. Still continuing his acting and 3D animation works in Izmir.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: THE EIGHTHDirected by Kanas and Jonathan

Overwhelmed by subjective opinons in today's Hong Kong society, various moral standards have been weaponized for trampling on the minority group.A middle-aged "dokuo",Tak, is a computer technician working in a secondary school. Repeatedly lured by his colleague, he at last visited a prostitute in a hotel for his first time. Though, he found that the prostitute came was his niece, Yee. Puzzled and shocked, Tak traded with her unconsciously. The matter came to light afterward. The mainstream tends to take women’ side and convince that it is Tak’s fault. In a city full of moral standards and rules, where can Tak stand with it?

Kanas and Jonathan are film student graduated from the Hong Kong Baptist University. Kanas mainly focus on Post-production work, while production is Jonathan's major . The Eighth is their first story to work together.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: DEAR JOHNDirected by David Ohikhuare

A child who was diagnosed with hearing loss and an attending speech impairment writes a letter to his elder brother a couple of years after his miraculous recovery. He shares his experiences; many of which were once shut within his unpleasant solitude.A child who was diagnosed with hearing loss and an attending speech impairment writes a letter to his elder brother a couple of years after his miraculous recovery. He shares his experiences; many of which were once shut within his unpleasant solitude.

​David Ohikhuare is the son of Nigerian Film Maker; Stanlee Ohikhuare. He is Nine years Old and "Dear John" is his first movie. The movie was inspired by David's kid brother - Daniel, who was diagnosed with a profound hearing loss after a pneumonia attack when he was just two months old.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: ALIYYAH'S WISHDirected by Jamiu Shoyode

She is in darkness and leaves in a different world from that of her parent. Her parent are the upwardly mobile one who enjoys life to the fullest at the expense of their only daughter but Aliyyah will take any opportunity to express her mind to her negligent parent. She found that opportunity and she judiciously won the heart of her parent with the power of speech

Jamiu is a Film Director from Nigeria.​ALIYYAH'S WISH is his directing debut.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: THE WAITDirected by Tiziana Bosco

A man knows he is going to be killed, but doesn’t react. Moving backwards through his life, we find out why, who he is, why he took the identity of his victim, what he wanted to do before he died. An atmospheric movie in which images play a major role, because its characters -especially the protagonist- are laconic, solitary, disillusioned. Also an action movie, with an engaging narrative development. The story takes place in a Sicilian town, not far from tourism or commerce, nestled with organized crime and gossip; the crime scene, however, is viewed as unobtrusive by the locals, while the gossip is more important than the solidarity of the local community. Lucia, a 35/40-year-old woman, seems to be the infatuation of our protagonist. She is the local gossip but she doesn’t revoke the life she chose. She is so lonely that she lives with mannequins, which she dresses and beautifies, and she talks to them more than she talks to her occasional customers, who help her survive. She sees Beretta as her only escape route from a world she is forced into, yet doesn’t abandon because of laziness or fear. Like Beretta, who chooses to rent a tom-like room, she hardly ever leaves the room she lives in. He is the reason why she goes outside, but she doesn’t understand the importance of this exit: she waits for him to take her away for good, but alone she is not able to risk and abandon her place and her life. They are both lonely and used to struggling, but he finds in his own remorse the strength to redeem himself, while she waits.The Wait refers to our protagonist waiting for death, as well as the wait all the others around him experience, not realizing that time passes, inexorably. The film thrives on the contrast between the attitude of the protagonist, “waiting” for death, and the quick progression of events experienced by the secondary characters who either try to kill him or find the precious bounty. Going back and forth in time highlights this contrast, and connects past causes to present effects. The colors of the day, the brightness of Sicily, its local gossip, tradition, superstitions, and the small tricks which characterize the vitality of outdoor life, all contrast with melancholy, laziness, and ‘the wait’ of the protagonist’s room and sense of time, described through long shadows and almost expressionist images. The music by Angelo Badalamenti (“Twin Peaks”, “Blue Velvet”, “Mulholland Drive”, “A True Story” by David Lynch and “Holy Smoke” by Jane Campion) serve to excellently define this atmosphere.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: THE JOURNEYDirected by Prasha (Puthima Wongdeeprasith)

“The Journey” is a 2D Motion Graphics. The story is based on the artist’s life when she lost her luggage traveling between continents. In the film, a young boy is the narrator. And the main character is actually the luggage, who enjoys the unexpected adventures he encounters on the trip. I use a Low Poly Vector Style and a splashy palette. Purple is my favorite color to help recreate childhood sensations. I have the young boy narrate the story that includes fun, fear and unexpected events; so it is easy to follow and further suggests a child-like innocence. ​

Prasha (Puthima Wongdeeprasith) is a Motion Graphics and Illustrator designer, originally from Bangkok, based in New York City. Her Bachelor Degree was a double degree received from Silpakorn University and BIAD (Birmingham Institute of Art and Design) UK. While studying in Bangkok, she was a finalist in Illustration Book Design Contest and 2D Animation Competition.She has great talented in Painting, and Illustration Design. She loves traveling, learning new cultures and meeting people. She usually put her journey and inspiration in artworks.Currently graduated in Computer Arts, the School of Visual Arts, NYC.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: FLUTULUSDirected byIgor Sadovski

​A couple of family retires in a house in the woods for few days in the way to decide on the birth of their child. The husband wants a career, his wife wishes to preserve the life growing in her. "To be or not to be?" "Everything is in your hands" is the answer to the question. The story is seen through the eyes of the child, now already an old woman.

​Born in Republic of Moldova on 6 February 1981. At the age 19 he moved in Italy , here attended The Sae Institute of Milano, Digital Film Making department. At the moment lives in Italy.As director and screenwriter, short filmography: - Medalion (2013), in selection at Sunderland Film Festival (UK) - Disturbia ( 2012), Short Film Corner at Cannes (France)As co-screenwriter with Marco Colabraro: - Westwood (2014) a feature film.His films are psychological thrillers, drama, dealing with the suffering and mystery. Inspired by directors as: Andrey Tarkovsky, Lars Von Trier, David Fincher.

GUY comes home from another failure and has to deal with his nagging wife as always except that today was different; he was going to change things today, for good... Or maybe not. A satirical look at the institute of marriage.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: That Night before MorningDirected by Rakesh kuma

A man in love with a girl finds one night that the girl doesn't exist.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: AgrinouiDirected by Alexis Chaviaras

A young mare visits Cyprus to take part in races. Frustrated from failure, she abandons the racetrack after confronting her strict father. The mare will meet new friends who will try to help her find her lost courage.

​Alexis Chaviaras, born in Antwerp in 1978, has been teaching animation at Universities in Cyprus since 2009. Alexis has been generating media animation material since 2002 and is currently researching the field of scenic design for 3D computer animated films.

Director Statement​The incredibly talented people that contributed to this production made this film a joy to create. This film aims to be appealing to a wide range of ages. So, no violence, no sex, no explosions! These apparent restrictions enabled the story to focus on the building of relationships between friends and the psychological challenge the protagonist is faced with. Certain philosophical matters that subtly deal with questions such as racism and the path to success will be easier to be picked up by the more mature members of the audience. In this film we also get to know Cyprus by seeing traditions in front of significant landmarks and by hearing Cypriot characters communicate in their native language.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: GOOD MORNINGDirected by Ganeesh Genus

Bobby, a 20-something year old is in a state of despair a week before his wedding. Confused and afraid, Shea, a free-spirited young lady, aims to provide some comfort.

Ganeesh Genus was born in Baltimore, Maryland to two newly emigrated Jamaican parents. At 5, his family moved to South Florida where he would be raised. He was always more into the arts than the common book work and school, and took very quickly to the visual arts like painting and film. During his senior year, Ganeesh decided that we would pursue a career in the film industry and study film in New York City.

Director StatementI love all forms of art and media, but film is what I was drawn to from a very early age. My goal in life is write and direct powerful pieces of work that resonate with people of all creeds and colors, and redefine the art as we know it.

OFFICIAL SELECTION: Familia Por VidaDirected by Selina Elise

OFFICIAL SELECTION:Gaia: A magical encounter

Directed by Ivan De La Torre

After several dreams and the abandon of his uncle and aunt, Carlos, who depends on his older brother makes the decision to plant the seeds they have left on the dry lake.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:RECOURSE

Produced by Chioma Paul - Dike and Directed by Stanlee Ohikhuare

​A vulnerable teenager stands alone in her plight against an abusive insider.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:A sweet heart inside a cappuccino

Directed by Marco Daffra

A homeless man walks into a bar and after having left his two large bags on the floor, he timidly asks for a coffee, while a beautiful and elegant lady is sitting in front of a heart-shaped foam cappuccino. The bartender does not pay attention to the request of the homeless man, until he painfully throws a handful of small coins on the bar counter. The barman, quite bothered, collects them, prepares the coffee and winks sweet smiles to the lady. He goes on acidly talking about the homeless man. The lady looks at him with complicity, but then, something unexpected happens ...The homeless man represents in a broad sense all the marginalized, but he could even be the person who sleeps under the bridge, but also a family man who has lost his job or his house or whatever. Anyway, that shows the condition of most of the people who are now living "marginalized" by society for various reasons.

2005-2011 Written, directed and performed in a variety of shooting short films and music videos and performances. Made dozens of DVDs of all kinds, also collaborated on several screenplays. 2012 Built in a documentary film about Ireland with the music of Whisky Trail. 2014 Director of the feature film "Uscio e Bottega" ​

OFFICIAL SELECTION:DEAD END

Directed by Rakesh kumar

Gaurav and Atul are two school friends celebrating the end of their exam. A detour to a brothel and a chance encounter with a cop brings out the worst in them.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:HOOP DREAMIN

Directed by Nick Brooks

​An 8-year-old Tariq Edwards has recently been let out of school for the summer and all he wants to do is play basketball!! Unfortunately, Tariq and his friends realize they’ll never get to play at the neighborhood courts so they move on to other things. Tariq, still stuck on playing ball, gets the opportunity of a lifetime when he spots a basketball hoop for sale, but he doesn’t have enough money to purchase it. Tariq has to make a tough decision, to work for his hoop or enjoy his summer with his friends. Will his wildest dreams come true?

Nick Brooks is an aspiring filmmaker born and raised in Washington, DC. Nick graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and went on to receive a Master’s degree in Education from George Mason University. While pursuing his Master’s, Nick taught Kindergarten, First Grade and Middle School in inner city of DC. Here is where he found his passion for serving his community and educating young minds. Merging his newfound passion with his love for creativity and art, Nick began writing film and created a children’s books series, The Adventures of Yani. As a filmmaker Nick strives to create powerful images that not only entertain, but inspire and educate.

Director StatementThe film Hoop Dreamin' was created for two very specific reasons.The first being to inspire young men of color around the world and show them that any dream can be achieved through sacrifice, hard work and purpose.The second reason this film was created was to provide an opportunity for young men in the community to exercise their creativity in a positive, productive way. The young men in this film all attend school in the South Oak Cliff feeder pattern of Dallas, TX which has been deemed the "worst" feeder pattern in all of Dallas, TX. Having these young men create this film promoted teamwork, incentivized good grades in school and most of all showed them that they are brilliant, talented individuals capable of all things. My goal was to expose these young men to something they've never experienced, broadening their minds and inspiring new passions.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:ROGUE ISLAND

Directed by Ryan Justice

OFFICIAL SELECTION:BROTHERHOOD

Directed by Christian Washington

​Brotherhood is a short animated feature that follows the lives of two brothers growing up in a home where the parental structure suddenly falls apart . However, a glimmer of hope remains as long as the oldest brother can discover one important truth: Sometimes the people in our lives who are hardest to love, end up being the most important people we should cherish.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:SAVING DREAMS MOVIE(CLOSING FILM)

Directed by Isioro Tokunbo Jaboro

A naïve girl with dreams of stardom, marries a powerful man, who abuses her while running a foundation that protects abused women.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:STAR DAVID

Directed by Eugene Koshin

12 y.o. Jewish girl Dinka studies at Machon (Jewish orthodox orphanage). Lone middle-aged Israeli-born Hana, the Machon headmistress, exerts best efforts to educate girls in the spirit of Jewish tradition and to protect them from the temptations of the outside world. Once Dinka has watched a boring b-movie on TV and felt in love with Hollywood actor David Travis, a muscular handsome moustachette. She decides to marry him by the Talmudic rules and writes letters to Hollywood.

​28 y.o. writer and director based in Kiev, Ukraine. Currently a student in Film Directing at THE HIGHER COURSES FOR SCREENWRITERS AND DIRECTORS (Moscow). Originally from Donetsk, I received my B.A. (2008) and M.A. (2009) in Russian Philology at Donetsk National University and continued my education as post-graduate student at the Department of Literature Theory and Art (since 2009). I studied screenwriting at STB Channel Screenwriting School (2010) and Robert McKee Seminar “Story” (2013). Before beginning film school, during writing my Ph.D. thesis, I worked as the writer on STB and DONBASS TV channels. I've worked as screenwriter and assistant director on projects BEHIND THE SPOTLIGHT and THE GLORIOUS SEVEN (dir. Harald Franklin).

OFFICIAL SELECTION:UNPROTECTED

Produced by Kiki Omeili and Directed by Stanlee Ohikhuare

​

​The birth of twin boys is not enough compensation when an otherwise perfect family is put in harm's way by the husband's promiscuity which leaves the family in distress and prone to the possibility of a lifetime of anguish.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:911 PIZZA

elefterios zacharopoulos

OFFICIAL SELECTION:IRETI

Tope Oshin

​DURATION: 11.03 Minutes

IRETI (38), a despondent woman trapped in a solitaryJAIL cell has given up on life and any meaning it holds, following the death of her 8 year old son. She sits day after day, hovering between being deathly still and intense wailing and mourning until she has a very unusual encounter within her jail cell and self.... ​

TOPE OSHIN

Tope Oshin is a multiple award-winning motion picture professional with feet firmly rooted in both film and TV having extensive credits in both areas. Tope Oshin studied Theatre Arts, T.V & Film Production from the LagosSTATE UNIVERSITY, Nigeria, and then Filmmaking Techniques & Methodologies at Colorado Film School, USA, and is also an alumni of Berlinale Talents 2015, selected out of over 2,500 applications from filmmakers in 150 countries across the world. She directed 350 episodes of Africa's biggest daily soap opera Tinsel and 96 episodes of popular African tele-novella Hotel Majestic. OtherCREDITS are multiple award winning shorts The Young Smoker, Till Death Do Us Part, New Horizons, the award-winning feature Journey To Self and in production of her first documentary Amaka’s Kin. Among her producing credits are 26 made-for-TV movies, talk shows, the soap opera - Tinsel (as Box/Content Producer) and 2015 BFI premiered theatrical feature Fifty directed by Biyi Bandele, amongst others. She has also cast several projects and notable among them are MTV’s drama series Shuga 3 & 4.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:HONEY

Olu Yomi Ososanya

Runtime5:02

Honey is a visual narrative that explores the nocturnal life of a young girl , looking at what drives young ladies to do the things they do with their bodies.

She will give you a night of pleasure, for a life, but at what cost?

Olu Yomi is aGRADUATE of the school of DVD extras and director's commentary , an endless student of cinema. HisSHORT film BLISS a homage to the work of Alfred Hitchcock, got a Special Mention at the Corona Fastnet Short Film Festival. Erased, a short he wrote was selected for the Cannes Short Film Corner 2016.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:PROVIDENCE

ADULAWO ENTERTAINMENT - MATTHIAS ARAGBADA

Runtime12:43

An insight into the metaphysical realm of choices and consequences.We see the spirit of Karma's awakening on blue Mondays and her attraction to different victimswho will she claim next?

I was Born December 21, 1979 in Kaduna, Nigeria, I am an Art graduate of LAUTECH school of arts, Ogbomoso, with specialization in painting. i have worked in the Nigerian digital ArtMARKET for 10 years, as an art director in advertising agencies and also an animator.I created the Popular Nigerian Headies Award and her branding. I was a designer for Mo'hits entertainment. i have worked as an animator on projects with lots of Nigerian directors like Clarence peters, Djtee, Patrick Elis, Mex, Iykeman to mention a few. I currently run my own digital art company with the name Dudutoonz Studioz. Providing digital art services ranging from filming, animations, motion graphics, graphic design and photography to companies here in Nigeria. ​

OFFICIAL SELECTION:APRIL FOOL'S DAY

Apostolis Iliopoulos

Runtime17:10

The life of a scavenger changes when he finds a book in the trash

OFFICIAL SELECTION:LIGHT DIARIES

James Honiball

Runtime3:59

Light Diary: 01 In this short film we explore notions of longing for the past andDEALING with the turmoil that arises out of that in the present, through the use of a noir aesthetic and performance by Melissa Haiden.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:JOURNEY

Radheya Jegatheva

​Runtime7:46

Radheya Jegatheva is a young filmmaker born in Johor, Malaysia in 1999 to parents of South Korean and Malaysian ancestry. He now attends Perth Modern school in Western Australia.Radheya's skill set cuts across a number of creative areas and he has won prizes for his creations in the fields of writing, poetry, art and film making, among others.Film Successes: Overall Winner (2015) - Asiagraph Reallusion 3D iClone High School Competition: "Don't Look Under the Bed" Best Story (2015) - Asiagraph Reallusion 2D Crazytalk High School Competition: "Finding Home" People's Choice winner (2016) - My Freo Story competition:"My Freo Journey"

An astronaut called Orion is alone in space. He asks a lot of questions, like how did he get here, how is he still alive, shouldn't his oxygen have run out, etc. Eventually he meets another astronaut whose name is Aurora. She gives him a polaroid of Earth (the story revolves around the idea of finding home), and they set off to find 'home'. Along the way they see a lot of beautiful things and a bond forms between them. Then they come across a black hole. Orion sees that Earth,THE HOME that they are looking for, is in ruins, slowly getting sucked towards impending doom (which explains the remnants of humanity that surround them). Aurora dies and Orion (somehow) survives by getting hit by another piece of debris, which sends him hurtling away from the black hole and into the abyss. Some time later he regains consciousness and wakes up in an ocean of stars. He realises that he is holding the polaroid of Earth. He lets himself go and cries after the memories of Aurora. But he knows that home is gone now, and he lets the polaroid of Earth go, setting off into the endless void. An astronaut called Orion is alone in space. He asks a lot of questions, like how did he get here, how is he still alive, shouldn't his oxygen have run out, etc. Eventually he meets another astronaut whose name is Aurora. She gives him a polaroid of Earth (the story revolves around the idea of finding home), and they set off to find 'home'. Along the way they see a lot of beautiful things and a bond forms between them. Then they come across a black hole. Orion sees that Earth,the home that they are looking for, is in ruins, slowly getting sucked towards impending doom (which explains the remnants of humanity that surround them). Aurora dies and Orion (somehow) survives by getting hit by another piece of debris, which sends him hurtling away from the black hole and into the abyss. Some time later he regains consciousness and wakes up in an ocean of stars. He realises that he is holding the polaroid of Earth. He lets himself go and cries after the memories of Aurora. But he knows that home is gone now, and he lets the polaroid of Earth go, setting off into the endless void. An astronaut called Orion is alone in space. He asks a lot of questions, like how did he get here, how is he still alive, shouldn't his oxygen have run out, etc. Eventually he meets another astronaut whose name is Aurora. She gives him a polaroid of Earth (the story revolves around the idea of finding home), and they set off to find 'home'. Along the way they see a lot of beautiful things and a bond forms between them. Then they come across a black hole. Orion sees that Earth, the home that they are looking for, is in ruins, slowly getting sucked towards impending doom (which explains the remnants of humanity that surround them). Aurora dies and Orion (somehow) survives by getting hit by another piece of debris, which sends him hurtling away from the black hole and into the abyss. Some time later he regains consciousness and wakes up in an ocean of stars. He realises that he is holding the polaroid of Earth. He lets himself go and cries after the memories of Aurora. But he knows that home is gone now, and he lets the polaroid of Earth go, setting off into the endless void.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:KUTTY MANI

shekar Viswanath

Runtime3:10

An unborn baby speaks about her love and feelings towards her parents, especially her mother.The unborn baby expresses her concern towards her mothers sorrow and wishes that she will be reborn as her baby again.The story also portraits the emotion and real pain of a mother who is about to terminate her beloved baby in few hours.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:HOW DO WE KILL LUISA

yubogil fernandez

Runtime9:36

​5 kids committed a crime, as adults one of them wants to speak out and go to the police, the remain 4 got together to plan how to stop her.

Yubo Fernandez is an Actress, script Writer, Producer an Director, She lived in NYC for 10 years and attended Atlantic Film School workshops, and moved back to her natal Santo Domingo to study Cinematography Production in Altos de Chavon School. How do we kill Luisa is her second Short film, written, produced and directed by her. Peldanos de Dolor and Constanza are two more of her work. Yubo Fernandez has been in 3 feature movies in the Dominican Republic as an Actress.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:VOICE I AM

E Sa

Runtime6:00

Voice I AM addresses the oppression of women in Iran and Middle East. Our heroine is living a life surrounded by injustice and social restrictions. Our heroine will perform with a young girl representing her own childhood.A contemporary dance troupe will perform a series of symbolic dance routines to represent elements of the narrative and social issues faces by women.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:IT'S FUNNY TILL IT'S NOT

Ferdinand Stirling and Devin Barilla

Two boys happily play in the pool until something horribly wrong.

Ferdinand Stirling and Devin Barilla is 14 years old and lives in New York City.​

OFFICIAL SELECTION:SILENCE

Bose Oshin

Producer: Bose Oshin

​Bose Oshin is a seasoned Producer / Line Producer in the movie, TV and documentary industry in Nigeria. She has co-produced and managed at least 70% of the most outstanding movies to grace the Nigerian and international cinema in recent times. These include Kunle Afolayan’s THE C.E.O, OCTOBER 1, THE FIGURINE, and PHONE SWAP; Mildred Okwo’s THE MEETING, and Michelle Bello’s FLOWER GIRL, also included is the acclaimed HALF OF A YELLOW SUN movie produced by Andrea Calderwood (Last King Of Scotland). Other credits include award winning TV series, MTV Shuga Seasons 3 & 4 amongst others and My Nige ria documentary series produced for Al Jazeera.

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Director: Tolu Ajayi

​"SILENCE..." TELLS US THE STORY OF A TYPE OF RAPE THAT HAPPENS EVERYDAY THAT PEOPLE NO LONGER SEE AS RAPE.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:BLACK BARBIE

Comfort Arthur

​Black Barbie is a spoken/ poetry animation that explores the filmmakers experience with skin bleaching. The film explores issues of colourism and self image.

​Comfort Arthur is a British Born Ghanaian who gained a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design at Central St Martins and a masters degree in Animation at the Royal College of Arts. In 2012 she moved to Ghana and now works as a freelance editor, illustrator, Graphic Designer and animator. She has worked on several award winning films in Ghana such as Sparrow production’s Potomanto and Rebecca. She has also edited top tv series shows such as Adam’s Apple and V Repbublic. In 2015 her short animation film The Peculiar Life of a Spider was nominated in the animation category at the Ghana Movie Awards and The Africa Movie Academy Awards . In addition, her short animation film “Imagine” won best Animation 2016 at the Golden Movie Awards.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:HER FIRST TIME

Pascal Aka / Esi Yamoah

​A young vixen is forced to choose between what she wants to do and what she has to do.

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​Esi Yamoah is a filmmaker that has relocated in Accra, Ghana. She works in post production and communications at Breakthrough Studios. She is an actress on stage and in films.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:VEILLED

Andy Siaw

​Runtime29:53

A story of a young man, Ekow brought up from the cradle of poverty loses his sense of self in his father's quest to sustain his reputation and family. He was given out at a very tender age to his auntie who had just returned from Nigeria. Ekow faces a lot of terror during that period due to his aunties continuous sexual and physical abuse. This took the wheel of his life and made a turn for disaster .He lives with that emotional , mental and physical effects of the abuse everyday of his life and its eating him up from within. Despite the pain and resentment towards his father for supposedly being the cause of his troubles, his love for his sister remains his anchor in life. Due to that experience he had as a boy, Ekow is very protective of his little sister , Aseye and will do everything to keep her safe.

Andy Siaw is a versatile Ghanaian actor,director and producer from Ghana ,West Africa.He is very passionate about acting and Filmaking as a whole. He is a Christian by religion and very free minded as well. He attended Radiantway basic school for his primary education and moved to Akosombo international school for his secondary education,he is presently in the tertiary level at the Kwame Nkrumah University Of Science and Technology. He had his first major film role in Shredded stitches in 2013 which kick started a career in acting and filmmaking on the big screen .In his later years in high school he joined the drama club which was the beginning of theatrical acting for him. He has featured in a couple of movies, series and theatrical acts all in Ghana,Africa AND PRODUCED AND DIRECTED HIS FIRST FILM "VEILED".

OFFICIAL SELECTION:SHADOW OF JUSTICE

Tough Bone

A renowned assassin decides to turn a new leaf after getting married the love of his life, but his former mob boss needs him for a job and keeps his wife hostage till he gets the job done. He blew the whistle on the boss by engaging in an intense breath- taking battle to retrieve the love of his life.

DIRECTOR: Ose Iria

PRODUCER: Tough Bone

Tough Bone(Odiboh Jeddy) is a Film maker, Director, Martial artist, Stuntman and Actor. He is popularly known as Director Tough. His love for action started at a tender age, after being inspired by the likes of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. He joined the Nigerian Wushu Kungfu Federation where he attained the level of a Blackbelt and is currently one of Nigeria's to Kungfu Practitioners. He made this film to show the world that Africa is a land of many talents and also to inspire anyone out there that has as much as an idea, to make a brave step by trying to execute that idea and show the world a bit of your greatness.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:HOLE

Fuad Khater

This is story abut a young man returned to this familyafter long absence , after he got his college degree .he was shocked because his mother did not recognize him because of alzheimer’s disease .he feel sad for this , but he decided to do some thing for here .he tried to approached to his mother through their old memory .only love could heal Alzheimer's .

Director press reports and filmmaker interested in short films .. very interested in the work of social and humanitarian issues

OFFICIAL SELECTION:NO 16 DA AN ROAD

Joanne Lin

Runtime7:22

Joanne is a freelance animator/ fabricator based in Alhambra, CA. Born in U.S but raised in Taipei, Taiwan, she bases most of her animations on her childhood memories. Her stories often involve themes of nostalgia, love, cats, a sense of belonging, and family narratives. She considers memories and imagination the most powerful story-telling tools, and enjoys using a combination of both traditional and digital media to create worlds in which her characters come to life.

​“Open the window so the air can circulate. Keep the letters if you see my name on them, otherwise they are just ads and you can recycle them. There’s stuff in the fridge, but I will bring something back. And don’t forget to lock the door. I should be home soon sweetie." With a sketchbook in hand, a young girl copes with her longings and loneliness through imagination.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:3 MINUTES LATER

MOBIN GHADERI

Runtime3:22​

old man janitor while working sees young suspicious .with Carefully follow him goes Finally, he find his body.

​i born in sanandaj in iran and i start filmmaking when i 15 age have two short film and i keep the way

OFFICIAL SELECTION:THIRSTTOLU AJAYI

In 2011,he created and directed a romantic comedy television film “ A New You” for Ebony Life TV Drama series. See trailer here - http://bit.ly/1tRMWyy. In 2012,he was a director of avant garde Nigerian web series in 2012 “ Knock Knock” starring OC Ukeje ,Bayray Mcwizu , Zainab, and Deyemi Okanlawon . See here - http://bit.ly/1sZjJy4. Tolu is the creator and director of a new TV series “ Paradise Way” for Ebony Life TV which is airing now on Ebony Life TV. Tolu Ajayi is the director of the Encounter . The film has won AFRIFF Special Jury Recognition for best short film, AMAA Best Short film nomination,. Newsweek Europe has called it one of “Best Nigerian films 2015. He has shot another short “ Silence” and is working on his feature film for 2017. For more information, please go to www.toluajayi.com YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/toluajayi1?feature=watch. Instagram - http://instagram.com/tolulopeajayi ​​

Thirst is a short film based on a visual paradox of deprivation in the midst of plenty. A situation that exists in many rural Nigerian communities. ​​

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Tolu Ajayi is a Creative professional working in Advertising and Film. He has versatility across many fields of visual communication from writing, photography and directing,. Starting as intern cartoonist at Vanguard newspapers in his secondary school days, Tolu now has garnered almost 2 decades of advertising experience making some of the most memorable campaigns for SO&U SAATCHI. as first as a copywriter and TV commercials producer and director He currently runs a TV production company Lucid Av for SO&U’s advertising group. He’s also was a talented multi camera director on the acclaimed MNET Tinsel series . He also wrote and directed an award winning short film Blink which got him online notoriety winning 3 awards at the In-Short film festival with several nominations at other industry awards including AFRIFF this year. See Blink here - http://bit.ly/NRjAw8.

​OFFICIAL SELECTION:FAMILYDAMILOLA ORIMOGUNJE

Family is a thriller shot in a day in Lagos. It is a message to the world on Homicide cases, most importantly sad because it is a real life story.

Runtime10:44

The director is a professional writer who has written over three award-winning, good box office films in Nollywood. He is also a Tv producer and has worked in three Tv stations in Nigeria admist other independent projects. He is inspired by the works of Quetin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, Martin Scorcese, and writer Aaron Sorkin.

​OFFICIAL SELECTION:THE COCOONHANIF MOOSAVI

A Story about a Bank Staff who gets trapped in the Strongbox of the bank.

​OFFICIAL SELECTION:LUSTERMASON DOUGHLAS

A Montana land surveyor's morality is compromised after discovering a bar of gold on a corpse.

Writer and filmmaker based out of Missoula, MT and Chicago, IL.​

​OFFICIAL SELECTION:AND THE WIND CAMEASHIONYE RACCAH

Following years of being a victim of domestic violence, a woman decides to take revenge on her husband by meting the same punishment to him. This movie addresses the issue of domestic violence.

​Ashionye Michelle Raccah is a respected Nollywood actress, screenwriter, producer and director. Ashionye began her career as an a radio/TV presenter in 2000. Her career in the movie industry began in 2005 when she featured in the popular TV series, 'Doctors' Quarters'. Ashionye has gone on to feature in movies and TV shows including 'Journey to Self', 'Bump', 'Tinsel', 'Head over heels', 'Spinsters', 'Jungle Ride', 'Kpians' etc. As a producer, she has under her belt the multi-award winning movie, 'Journey to self', 'Public Property', 'The Storybook', 'Stereo'. She has directed a children's TV shows, 'The Storybook' and 'Stereo'. 'And the wind came' is Ashionye's movie directorial debut.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:CALLDARO UMAIGBA

​A young man is at cross roads. He is waiting for a call that may alter the course of his life.

​A self taught, lover of all things visual. Also an award winning Music Artist,cinematographer, graphic artist, motion graphic artist. Co-founder of a vibrant movie production outfit.

OFFICIAL SELECTION:THE OTHER METOMI ADESINA

​“Autism offers a chance for us to glimpse an awe-filled vision of the world that might otherwise pass us by.” – Dr Colin Zimbleman. I believe there is a world that goes on in the mind – it is beautiful, serene and a world we control. I spend a lot of time in my head and I like to believe that it is a human thing. When I wanted to do a short film that would involve the mind and what goes in there, I thought about people with special needs that might find it more difficult to express their feelings and that was what led me to do some more research on people with Autism and after I had come up with a plot, I spoke to Michael Tayo Babalola, co-owner of BlueHouse Films and we thought it might be interesting to work on that theme. From reading journals to watching videos of people living with Autism, I got a clearer picture on the subject and longed to show how much a person with Autism has to say but might not be able to pass across effectively, thus making people think they are antisocial. Through, The Other Me, my desire is to lend a voice to stop discrimination against people like us who are just different.

​A young man with Autism, Olamide, decides to take the love of his life, Sharon, on a date. What should be the best day of his life turns out to be his biggest nightmare

OFFICIAL SELECTION:​BEHIND THE WHEELS(SPECIAL SCREENING - world premiere-)STANLEE OHIKHUARE

Popularly tagged "Nigeria's MOST CONTROVERSIAL FILM", BEHINF THE WHEELS throws light on the travails and peculiar challenges of Tanker Drivers in Nigeria.Drenched in shattering emotions, the story takes us on a journey through the life of Jimoh; a Tanker driver as we are guided by the narrative of Elijah - a former Tanker driver who now has his own tankers.Elijah's narrative reveals the similarities between his very poor and unfortunate past (reflected in Jimoh's present situation) and his present status; which remains but a bleak aspiration for Jimoh and other tanker drivers.

Stanlee is a self - taught 3D animator, Graphic Artist, Video Editor, Visual effects creator and Stunts Director. He is a SURREALIST and his works exude audacious fantasy with a measurable degree of artistic juxtaposition. He has often been referred to as an “AUTEUR” because of his unique approach to film making in which he exudes a peculiar signature in style and technicality that is immediately noticeable in all his productions; irrespective of the genre.He is a photography enthusiast and an ardent lover of great cinematography. As a Director, he loves being behind the Camera to ensure that there is visual fidelity in his productions. PROFESSIONAL MILESTONES IN FILM MAKING: